Monday, July 16, 2012

Why call it a "scapular"? How is it different from a blessed medal?

July
16th, Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

“Take, beloved son, this scapular of thy order as a badge of
my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace;
whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign
of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant.” (From the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to
St. Simon Stock, 16 July 1251)

While there are many scapulars, the brown scapular of the
Carmelite Order is certainly the most popular among the devotion of the people.
We need not mention the many miracles and graces which have been bestowed upon the
Christian faithful through this most precious gift of the Mother of God.
Through the brown scapular, countless souls have been converted, families
reconciled, and whole nations restored to the dominion of Christ.

However, while we must surely
recognize the great privileges bestowed upon the brown scapular, we may not
fully understand its significance. Why is it called a “scapular”? And, what
makes the brown scapular different from a religious medal (like, for example,
the Miraculous Medal)?

The
scaplula, or shoulder

The word “scapular” comes from
the Latin scapula, meaning “shoulder”.
A scapular is that piece of cloth worn by monks and nuns over their shoulders.
It extends from the shoulders down the front and back of the habit.

To this day, the monastic
scapular is quite large and covers a good portion of the body of the religious.

However, according to popular
devotion, this larger monastic scapular has been adapted to better suit the
practical needs of the lay people who desire to be united to the tradition of
the monastic communities – in this case, to the Order of Carmel. Thus it is
that the “brown scapular” consists of two pieces of woolen cloth (generally
small squares) connected by two cords – such that the square pieces of cloth
hang upon the shoulders and hang over the chest and back of the individual.

Hence, the little brown
scapular is really a reminder and imitation of the larger monastic scapular
which the Carmelite monks and nuns wear on the outside of their habits. In
order to adapt this devotion to the needs of secular life, the brown scapular
is worn under the clothing next to the skin – for it would be quite inappropriate
for a lay person to walk about town with a visible monastic scapular!

A young Karol Wojtyla, with his scapular

When
a scapular breaks – it does happen from time to time!

It can happen that the cords
holding the brown scapular together will break. Especially after many years of
constant wear and tear, a scapular can become so old as to need to be replaced.

Some very active individuals –
especially, for example, mothers of young children – may find that their
scapular breaks regularly, on account of the many and trying duties of their
vocation.

What are we to do if our
scapular breaks? Does this mean that we have somehow offended our Lady? Of
course not! Rather, we can be certain that, if we are fulfilling to duties of
our vocation and if these duties require such labor as to cause our scapular to
wear out quickly, our Blessed Lady will be quite filled with joy – for in
performing our daily chores (especially in doing the small things with great
love) we imitate the great charity of the Virgin!

If our brown scapular breaks,
we simply must replace it with a new one. However, while it is quite important to
be enrolled and/or invested in the brown scapular at the first, when we replace
a scapular which has broken beyond repair there is no need for any further
blessing or ceremony.

Why is it not necessary to have
a replacement scapular blessed? The answer is that the brown scapular is really
quite different from a religious medal.

If we were to lose a blessed medal,
we would want to replace it with another medal – but first, we would want to
have that medal blessed. Indeed, the blessing of religious medals extends only
to the particular medals that are being blessed.

However, with the scapular, no
such blessing is required for the second or third or (as in some cases) even
fourth scapular. After an individual has been invested in the brown scapular,
no further ritual or blessing is required for replacement scapulars. Why is
this?

Unlike a blessed religious
medal, the brown scapular is a reminder and sign of the habit of the Carmelite
Order. When a monk receives his habit for the first time, he is “invested” –
this ceremony recalls how the habit is primarily meant as a sign of the
religious vocation to which he desires to consecrate himself. During the summer
months, the monk wears one (lighter) habit; but during the winter months, he wears
another (heavier) habit. Further, when a particular habit is worn out, it is
simply replaced by a new one. And there is no special ritual or rite for the
reception of a different or new habit.

So too it is with the scapular.
When a man is first invested in the scapular, he receives the brown cloth over
his shoulders as a sign of his filial devotion to the Mother of God and of his
desire to imitate her virtues – especially her charity and her chastity.
Additionally, the brown scapular is a participation in the spiritual tradition
of the Order of Carmel.

However, just like the
religious habit, if the scapular breaks or is worn out and needs to be
replaced, there is no need for a “second investiture”. Rather, the new scapular
is simply procured by the individual and donned without any special ritual.

Because
a scapular is different from a blessed medal

While it is true that the cloth
scapular, after the investiture, can be replaced by the scapular medal; we must
stress that the most ancient tradition (and really the whole logic of the
scapular) connects this devotion with the vesture of the Carmelite Order. The
very name “scapular”, as well as the color and style, are wholly derived from
the religious habit of the Carmelites.

And here we can see a major
difference between a scapular and a religious medal. While the blessed medal is
itself consecrated, the scapular is rather the sign that the man is
consecrated. While the religious medal itself is blessed, the scapular is the
sign that the man wearing it lives a blessed life.

If we remember this point –
that the brown scapular is a “miniature” of the Carmelite habit – we will come
to a much deeper appreciation of the significance of the gift our Lady gave to
St. Simon Stock.

7
comments:

Yes Father, no Catholic can ever dispute that the scapular disposes it`s wearers to grace, including-hopefully-the grace of final perseverance, however,according to research of Fr.Patrick McMahon O.Carm Ph.D and Fr. Sam Anthony Morello O.C.D. of the Carmelite Institute Wash. D.C., they cannot say that Our Lady made any promises to Saint Simon Stock or to Pope John XXII regarding the sacramental. In fact the Holy See in 1613 forbid the Carmelites from preaching the Sabbatine Privilege. It is then as you correctly state, a Carmelite habit and as the Miraculas Medal or any sacramental dependant upon the disposition of the wearer. As the Dominicans say Veritas. Pax.

Michael,Yes, I do agree with Fr. Z on this point ... the sabbatine privilege per se (as an indulgence granted by the Church) is no longer in force ... however, Our Lady will certainly extend her special care over the souls in purgatory who were devoted to her in this life, and most especially on Saturdays! +

What should you do with the scapulars that have been worn out or in need of replacement? I doubt if we are to throw them out; however, I have a drawer dedicated to such items. I know when it is my birth date in heaven, that someone will throw them out as they would look at them and consider them to be useless. I also have old, outdated Mass books. I honestly do not know what to do with these items. Any suggestions?

@Anonymous:I believe old scapulars (and any old or damaged religious item) are supposed to be incinerated or at least broken up (statues). Then the remainder should be buried. This way you destroy the material cause (the physical object itself). No blessing or consecration remains if the object itself no longer exists).